Describing Tone in Poetry and Prose Tone: the speaker (character or persona) or writer’s attitude toward a subject. To analyze tone a reader must correctly identify the subject of the piece and the point of view (the speaker); then, using diction, the reader must formulate evidence to describe the tone and any tonal changes or subtleties of attitude. Tone is more than light or dark, serious or humorous, satiric or realistic. To describe tone is to be aware of nuances of voice. Words to describe tone: abhorrence compassionate exuberant abrupt complimentary facetious accusatory concerned factual admonitory condescending fearful amused condemnatory flippant anxious contemptuous foreboding apathetic contentious frivolous apprehensive confidant giddy apologetic confused glib argumentative critical gloomy audacious cynical hollow authoritative dark hopeful awe despairing horrified baffled desperate impartial bantering detached incisive benevolent didactic incredulous bitter diffident indifferent boring disbelieving indignant bucolic disdainful inflammatory candid disparaging informative cautious disturbed insipid ceremonial dreamy insolent cheery effusive inspirational childish elated ironic cynical elegiac irreverent clinical elitist joking cold eloquent joyful lackadaisical laudatory learned light lighthearted loving lucid lugubrious matter of fact meditative melancholic mock-heroic moralistic mournful nostalgic objective optimistic outraged passionate patronizing peaceful pedantic pessimistic petty pitiful piquant plaintive playful poetic pompous pretentious prosaic proud realistic reflective repressive resigned respectful sanctimonious sarcastic sardonic scornful seductive sentimental serene sharp shocked silly sober solemn somber surprised sympathetic sweet restrained reminiscent taunting threatening turgid urgent vexed vibrant whimsical
